Andrew Whittingham

Andrew Whittingham is a consummate professional with significant experience in providing business improvement, transaction and valuation advice to medium-sized business. 

Managing Director of Groves & Partners, Andrew is a Chartered Accountant practicing in the areas of transaction advisory (buy side and sell side), business value improvement, succession planning, business turnaround and valuations.

Prior to joining Groves & Partners, Andrew was the Managing Director of a consulting practice focused in the areas of transactions, valuations and restructuring. Andrew’s earlier career spans professional roles in insolvency, restructuring, corporate finance and M&A at international accounting firms Deloitte and Kroll. 

Andrew has built a professional career and reputation with his hands-on and flexible approach to all client engagements. To his clients, Andrew is a versatile professional with a strong focus on providing the right advice when they need it. Andrew focuses primarily on his areas of expertise, including providing expert advice to medium-sized businesses who experiencing significant change in their business. 

Andrew has a broad professional network and deep connections across a number of accounting, legal and insolvency professionals, business owners and investor groups. Andrew places a lot of value in his professional network, with a strong emphasis on a “horses for courses” approach to ensure technical guidance is provided by the people best-placed professionals to provide the advice.  

Andrew is known for acting for clients with a high degree of professionalism, communication and consistency, ensuring his clients and their advisors can act on his advice. Andrew places great emphasis on his advice being commercially grounded, clear and timely to assist with executing his client’s strategic and financial objectives. 

Valuation & Transaction Advisor for Medium-Sized Private Businesses

Andrew has significant experience in advising on the sale and purchase of medium-sized private businesses with an enterprise value between $2 million and $100 million. Andrew is practice leader of Groves & Partners’ transaction advisory practice and has vast experience working in mergers and acquisitions. 

Andrew’s sell-side transaction advisory practice is focused on assisting clients develop a divestment strategy, prepare their business for sale, and negotiating and executing sales for whole businesses or business units to achieve significant value uplift.

Andrew’s buy-side transaction advisory practice is focused on assisting clients with sourcing acquisition targets, providing strategic valuation advice, performing due diligence, and negotiating and executing purchases of businesses, assets and business units which provide significant strategic uplift. 

Andrew is very active on all client mandates and believes deal momentum in a transaction process can have a significant impact on the outcome of a transaction. Through acting on both sides of transaction mandates, Andrew has an exceptional ability to assess a transaction through the lens of both a seller and an acquirer. After acting in the transaction space for many years, Andrew has amassed a portfolio of contacts across industries and investment groups which he leverages to assist clients in facilitating successful transaction outcomes. 

Andrew is motivated to achieve the best commercial, strategic and financial outcomes for his clients to suit their unique business and personal objectives.   

Andrew does not disclose the identity of his transaction advisory clients, however a sample of recent transaction advisory mandates on a de-identified basis:

• Sell-side: Acting for the founders of a technology consulting firm, Andrew provided valuation and transaction advice for successful sale of business to a Big-4 accounting firm. 
• Buy-side: Acting for a European software developer client looking to expand into Australia, Andrew ran a successful acquisition campaign to acquire an Australian software developer. 
• Sell-side: Acting for a fast-growing e-commerce business, Andrew provided divestment advice and facilitated a strategic equity sell-down and partnership with a large multi-national retailer. 
• Buy-side: Acting for a professional lawyer, Andrew provided valuation, due diligence and commercial advice with an acquisition of a legal professional practice and associated proprietary software. 

Advisor to Businesses Seeking Value Improvement & Turnaround 

Andrew has extensive experience in advising business owners, boards and CEOs in the areas of business value improvement and turnaround advice aimed at accelerating profitability, maximising value and putting a business on track for greater success. Andrew specialises in providing operation, strategic and financial advice to improve commercial and business performance. 

Andrew’s approach to business improvement and turnaround is grounded in a deep understanding of value drivers within each business and industry, culminating in a tailored business improvement program which is both insightful and actionable. 

Andrew prides himself on being able to provide clients with no-nonsense advice to improve efficiency, profitability and business value. With a broad range of industry and sector experience, Andrew is well-placed to assist his clients ensure they protect the business they have built and ensure it can perform at its highest level. 

Andrew does not disclose the identity of his business improvement and turnaround clients, however a sample of recent business improvement and turnaround mandates on a de-identified basis:

• Toy Manufacturer: Acting for North America’s largest plush toy manufacturer, Andrew’s business improvement program focused on improving cash flow and working capital, employee retention, business process efficiency and profitability growth. 
• Flooring Contractor: Acting for a large tile, carpet and floorboard installer, Andrew’s business improvement program focused on improving cash flow, business reporting, information systems and debtor collections. 
• Building Contractor: Acting for an elevator supply and installation client, Andrew assisted in designing and facilitating a turnaround and restructure plan to assist in improving operational structures and efficiencies across the group. 
• E-commerce Retailer: Acting for an e-commerce startup, Andrew’s business improvement program focused on souring debt finance, inventory management, financial forecasting, and strategic business planning. 

Valuer of Businesses, Minority Interests and Intangible Assets

Andrew has significant experience in preparing independent expert valuations of business, minority shareholdings, intellectual property and intangible assets. Andrew specialises in providing valuation advice for taxation requirements, restructuring, litigation and divestment strategy. 

Andrew’s approach to undertaking valuation mandates is strongly aligned with the commercial circumstances facing each client. Whilst acting in this capacity, Andrew is highly experienced in quickly understanding a business, the underlying commercial drivers and the impact of the same on valuation outcomes. 

Most of Andrew’s valuation clients are referred to him from accountants, lawyers and insolvency practitioners from various firms located across Australia, including mid-tier accounting firms and large law firms. Andrew’s valuation clients span a range of industries and sizes and have included large private companies and the Australian subsidiaries of significant international groups.

Andrew does not disclose the identity of his valuation clients, however a sample of recent valuation engagements on a de-identified basis are outlined below:

• Intangible Assets: Acting for a software-as-a-service startup, valuation of intellectual property and intangible assets for purchase price allocation. 
• Administration and Transaction: Acting for Administrators, valuation advice and assessment of whether a sale transaction was conducted at arms-length and at fair market value. 
• Minority Shareholding: Acting for a major technology start-up, valuation of minority interest in company for employee incentive programs. 
• Liquidation and Litigation: Acting for a Liquidator, valuation of business which was subject to allegations of illegal phoenix activity and uncommercial transactions. 

Advisor in Succession Planning and KMP Buy-Outs 

Combining his experience in both transaction advisory and business improvement, Andrew regularly acts for clients in relation to succession planning and key management buy-outs. Working primarily with business owners, Andrew’s succession planning practice is centred on ensuring client’s business continuity risks are minimised, structuring an effective transition plan, retaining top employee talent, and enhancing operational performance.

Andrew has a strong track record in assisting business owners in developing, structuring, negotiating and executing succession plans. Working with a client’s existing lawyers and accountants, Andrew’s succession advice is tailored to the client’s commercial and personal objectives to achieve positive financial and operational outcomes in line with a business owner’s exit goals.  

Andrew does not disclose the identity of his succession planning clients, however following are a sample of recent succession planning and KMP buy-out mandates on a de-identified basis:

• Building Products Manufacturer: Acting for the founder, Andrew provided valuation advice, developed deal structures and negotiated an equity sell-down to the business’ General Manager. 
• Architecture Practice: Acting for the sole founder of an architecture practice, Andrew negotiated, structured and executed a transaction to bring on an additional partner in the practice. 
• Design Studio: Acting for a design studio, Andrew provided valuation, deal structuring and project management services to facilitate a succession plan.  

Working With Andrew

Most of Andrew’s clients are referred to him from previous clients, other industry practitioners and professionals such as accountants, lawyers and insolvency practitioners.  Andrew primarily practices from our Sydney and Brisbane offices but commonly engages with clients across Australia and internationally.

Andrew provides complimentary and confidential consultations to prospective clients and their advisors. To schedule a meeting with Andrew, contact him using the below details.